with D. R. Moon Memorial Library Director Elizabeth Miniatt

Hello everyone and welcome back to our monthly library column. Read on for the all the latest news and updates that I share with the library board each month at their meeting on the second Wednesday of each month at 5PM in the lower level of the library. The meetings are open to the public and all are welcome to attend.

It’s the library book sale this week! The personal library of Cheryl Kern-Simirenko has been generously donated to the library and we only have space to add a few items to the collection. As many of you may know, Cheryl was a long-time library board member and volunteer in the community, as well as an academic librarian for many years. She loved Stanley and our library and her unexpected passing in July was a tragedy for our community. We would love to see the rest of the hundreds of books Cheryl collected go to good homes, and the entire proceeds of their sale will be to benefit the building fund. The sale will be here at the library on November 8th-11th from 10AM to 6PM in the lower level of the library.

Congratulations to our pumpkin painting contest winners! We received great entries to the contest this year. Everyone who entered got a free book and Chloe’s Hedwig, Audrey’s Stitch, Mary’s Gregory, Kylee’s David, and Israella’s Scaredy Squirrel took home the prizes. We loved seeing everyone’s creativity in bringing these characters to life through art, thank you to all who participated!

Programs this month include an author visit with Barry Dalberto, author of Distant Dreamer and Brave on the 15th at 1PM, Storytime on the 17th, the Creative Writing Guilds for teens and adults on the 10th and 22nd respectively, Play & Learn on the 14th, and Girls Who Code clubs on the 30th. Our book club is currently reading Cabin Fever, the true story of a cruise ship at the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will meet on December 1st at 2PM. Check the website or pick up a calendar from the library for the full details on our programs.

Our library fact for this month is about our rural outreach. In 2021 library staff drove 6,244 miles to deliver books to the elderly, homebound, and students of rural schools. Without this outreach effort, most of these individuals would never have the opportunity to access our materials. Through dedicated staff time and grant funding, over the past few years we have been able to reach these members of our rural communities and “bring the library” to them in a new and powerful way. Our outreach programs are only possible through the tireless efforts of library staff and generous grant funding from organizations including the Wisconsin Humanities Council and the Community Foundation of Chippewa County.

The library is open for you Monday through Friday from 10AM-6PM. Come in any time to use the computers, find a book or movie, borrow a Wi-Fi hotspot or iPad, or use our printer to fax, scan, and copy. We are also offering curbside pick-up to those who wish to use that option and home delivery for the elderly and home-bound. Please note that the library will be closed November 24th and 25th for the holiday. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!